Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken a suo moto case against the political parties which called a hartal on Saturday in protest against the diesel price hike.

Commission chairperson Justice J B Koshy said that the ruling front and the Opposition parties in Kerala had already raised their voice against the diesel price hike which would adversely affect the common man.

But the need for a hartal, which would be loss of one working day, should be mulled seriously.

The hartal will affect the industries, students and badly affect the state as a whole.

Already 30 working days of students were lost in various hartals in the district-level and state.

The future of students will be seriously affected due to the hartals. When the upper class, including the politicians, sent their children for education in other states, those in the lower class, who are not able to go for tuitions, will be badly affected.

“The daily labourers will find it hard to make both the ends meet. The public, including the Commission members, are against the price hike, but will the hartal make any difference?” he asked.

Hartals will adversely affect the development of the state. The High Court and the Supreme Court has banned bandhs but now those institutions, which want to function, are forcefully closed down.

The public has the right to travel through roads, appear for their duty and open shops. It is illegal to disrupt educational rights and right to labour.

The political parties, which organise hartals, will be responsible to pay compensation if there is damage to properties during that day.

The rights of the travellers should be protected. The district police heads should submit a report to the Commission on those who use force against the public’s rights.

The High Court on Friday refused to interfere with a petition seeking to ban the hartal called by the LDF on Saturday protesting against the diesel price hike.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shaffique passed the order while considering a petition filed by A E Mathew of Kozhikode. The petitioner submitted that the political protest in the form of hartal is nothing other than the bandh which is banned by the court.

“The state is unable to prevent violent activities on hartal days and ensure safety to the citizens who want to pursue lawful activities. The publicity through media promotes hartal. If the court can restric it that would put an end to this evil practice,” the petitioner said.

The High Court on Friday refused to interfere with a petition seeking to ban the hartal called by the LDF on Saturday protesting against the diesel price hike.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shaffique passed the order while considering a petition filed by A E Mathew of Kozhikode. The petitioner submitted that the political protest in the form of hartal is nothing other than the bandh which is banned by the court.

“The state is unable to prevent violent activities on hartal days and ensure safety to the citizens who want to pursue lawful activities. The publicity through media promotes hartal. If the court can restric it that would put an end to this evil practice,” the petitioner said.